Bob Schul, 1964 Olympic 5000m champion, dies aged 86

Bob Schul, 1964 Olympic 5000m champion, dies aged 86

AW
Published: 18th June, 2024
Updated: 29th January, 2025
BY Jason Henderson
The only American to win Olympic 5000m gold used his withering sprint finish to beat a top-class field 60 years ago

When Bob Schul sprinted past Michel Jazy to victory in the 5000m in Tokyo in 1964, he won Olympic gold and earned athletics immortality. It is 60 years since his famous triumph at those Games and he remains the only American – man or woman – to win that title.

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